Reliability based risk index for the design of reinforced earth structures

The design methods currently used for earth reinforcement are mostly based on deterministic properties of both the soil and the construction materials used. Nowadays, however, the general trend is designing at a specific degree of reliability. This is even more true where the raw data such as soil properties exhibit significant variation. Deterministic solutions, in this case, may not suffice. Therefore, this paper will attempt to use probabilistic formulations thereby modifying the existing design procedure of reinforced earth retaining walls to account for uncertainties and variabilities. Through a first order Taylor's series expansion about the mean, the mean and variance of the strip reinforcing components, namely width and length, are derived in terms of the variations in the soil properties. Design charts that enable estimation of both mean and variance are developed to avoid extensive partial differentiation involved in the computations. Using appropriate probability distributions along with the mean and variance, the final design outputs are determined for a selected failure probability by introducing what is refered to as 'risk index'. The results indicate that the risk index increases with an increase in the coefficient of variations and a decrease in failure probability. Furthermore, it is shown that in some cases, depending on the variabilities of the soil properties, the classical design technique produced a relatively high failure probability. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Contrasting metamorphic evolution of metasedimentary rocks from the Çine and Selimiye nappes in the Anatolide belt, western Turkey

Abstract P–T conditions, mineral isograds, the relation of the latter to foliation planes and kinematic indicators are used to elucidate the tectonic nature and evolution of a shear zone in an orogen exhumed from mid‐crustal depths in western Turkey. Furthermore, we discuss whether simple monometamorphic fabrics of rock units from different nappes result from one single orogeny or are related to different orogenies. Metasedimentary rocks from the Çine and Selimiye nappes at the southern rim of the Anatolide belt of western Turkey record different metamorphic evolutions. The Eocene Selimiye shear zone separates both nappes. Metasedimentary rocks from the Çine nappe underneath the Selimiye shear zone record maximum P–T conditions of about 7 kbar and >550 °C. Metasedimentary rocks from the overlying Selimiye nappe have maximum P–T conditions of 4 kbar and c. 525 °C near the base of the nappe. Kinematic indicators in both nappes are related to movement on the Selimiye shear zone and consistently show a top‐S shear sense. Metamorphic grade in the Selimiye nappe decreases structurally upwards as indicated by mineral isograds defining the garnet‐chlorite zone at the base, the chloritoid‐biotite zone and the biotite‐chlorite zone at the top of the nappe. The mineral isograds in the Selimiye nappe run parallel to the regional S_R foliation, parallel the Selimiye shear zone and indicate that the Selimiye shear zone formed during this prograde greenschist to lower amphibolite facies metamorphic event but remained active after the peak of metamorphism. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar mica ages and the tectonometamorphic relationship with the Eocene Cyclades–Menderes thrust, which occurs above the Selimiye nappe in the study area, suggests an Eocene age of metamorphism in the Selimiye nappe. Metasedimentary rocks of the Çine nappe 20–30 km north of the Selimiye shear zone record maximum P–T conditions of 8–11 kbar and 600–650 °C. An age of about 550 Ma is indicated for amphibolite facies metamorphism and associated top‐N shear in the orthogneiss of the Çine nappe. Our study shows that simple monophase tectonometamorphic fabrics do not always indicate a simple orogenic development of a nappe stack. Preservation in some areas and complete overprinting of those fabrics in other areas apparently occur very heterogeneously.     

新疆某水利枢纽工程软弱结构面抗剪强度参数的试验研究

某水利枢纽工程位于伊犁地区,影响工程的主要问题为坝基岩体软弱结构面和断层的抗滑稳定问题。根据工程实际条件和软弱夹层特性,采取现场断层软弱结构面试验和室内模拟试验相结合,获得软弱夹层的抗剪参数。实践证明,把两种方法结合起来的试验成果可靠,尤其对一些不具备进行现场大型岩体软弱夹层抗剪试验的工程,采用室内中型直剪仪进 行剪切试验具有实用意义。     

基于统一强度理论的柱形孔扩张问题研究

考虑了岩土材料的软化和剪胀特性,利用空间轴对称问题的统一强度理论分析了柱形孔扩张问题,求出了岩土材料在柱形孔扩张时的应力场、应变场、位移场和最终扩张压力的统一解表达式。对蒋明镜-沈珠江扩孔公式从不同的方面作了论述。通过算例分析了岩土材料的软化和剪胀特性以及统一强度理论参数对应力场、位移场和扩张压力的影响。已有的关于该问题的Tresca解和Mohr-Coulomb解均为本文的一个特例。     

重塑非饱和粘土抗剪强度参数与饱和度的关系研究

土的饱和度是基于水分状态和密度状态的一个衍生变量。存在因应水分状态变化和因应密度状态变化的两类饱和度变化过程。根据23组不同水分状态和密度状态的UU三轴压缩试验结果,讨论了重塑非饱和粘性土抗剪强度参数与饱和度的关系。数据分析表明:粘聚力与水分状态相关的饱和度的关系是强非线性的,与密度状态相关的饱和度的关系是准线性的。内摩擦角与水分状态相关的饱和度的关系是强非线性的,与密度状态相关的饱和度的关系是弱非线性的。     

岩质边坡稳定性分析的探讨

通过最大剪应力等值线来确定边坡的滑动面,并与其结构面抗剪强度相比较,给出了确定边坡的稳定系数的方法。     

非饱和土抗剪强度理论的研究进展

非饱和土的工程性质是20世纪90年代以来国际岩土工程界研究的热点,非饱和土的抗剪强度是非饱和土的重要工程性质之一,在参阅了中、外文相关资料的基础上,总结了非饱和土抗剪强度理论的研究成果,提出了非饱和土抗剪强度有待进一步研究的问题。     

南京"2003.2.10"寒潮降温降雨(雪)天气过程初步分析

对2003年2月10日至11日发生在南京的一次寒潮降温降雨(雪)的主要影响系统，如阻塞高压、高空槽、横槽、中低层暖式切变线、地面冷锋以及地面暖低压倒槽等进行了描述和分析，并对某些物理量进行了分析。分析得出：这次寒潮降温降雨(雪)天气是在高空500hPa乌拉尔山阻塞高压崩溃、巴尔喀什湖至准噶尔盆地的横槽转竖，冷空气从西北路径东移南下，中低层冷槽与暖式切变线接合以及地面冷锋切入暖低压倒槽等天气系统的作用下发生的，并归纳出此类天气预报的指示系统，对于做好寒潮天气预报具有指导作用。     

地震前地表重力场变化的一种可能解释——应力-损伤耦合效应

文中运用损伤力学研究方法 ,提出孕震过程中引起地壳破坏的应力 -损伤耦合效应。利用应变等效性假设 ,推导了地壳体的应力 -损伤耦合效应与地表重力变化之间的理论关系。根据岩石力学实验的不同加载途径 ,模拟了 1976年唐山 7 8级地震和 2 0 0 1年昆仑山口西 8 1级地震重力演化的不同特征 ,结果与实际情况符合较好 ,表明应力 -损伤耦合效应可以作为地震前地壳重力变化的一种物理解释